LINCOLN- On Tuesday, longtime Clerk of the Legislature Patrick O'Donnell announced his intentions to retire by the end of the year. O'Donnell, now 73, has served in the position since 1978.

In an email to all state Senators, O'Donnell wrote, "It has been an honor to serve. I wish you well in the upcoming session." Although O'Donnell gave no particular reason for his retirement in the email, veteran lobbyist and longtime friend of O'Donnell's Walt Radcliffe stated that it, thankfully, wasn't health-related.

O'Donnell was hired on to the Legislature during his last year in law school, and acted as an aide to the Legislature's Judiciary Committee. "I started working here," said O'Donnell, "and I never left." In the past, O'Donnell told the Omaha World-Herald that "this place kind of gets in your blood. I feel like I'm part of something that's important."

When asked why he was departing, he said, "It’s a different environment, the nature of the members has changed. Some of that may be due to term limits, some because of money and politics."

“There are people who are more engaged in political theater now than the hard work of being a good senator."

O'Donnell noted that there are still dedicated individuals, just not nearly as many.

“We’re certainly not perfect,” he said. “I don’t know of one (legislative system) that is better. But I think we were even better before.”

O'Donnell said he will be keeping an eye on the upcoming session, but It may be from a golf course, or wherever he is traveling at that time.

The Legislature’s Executive Board will recommend the choice of the first new clerk of the Nebraska Legislature in 45 years.

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